Typewriter desk



Dec. 29, 1931. l. FRANKEL 'nrmnsa masx Filed J ly 3. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v fTzz/n for:

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Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ISIIDOR FRANKEL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO COMMERCIAL FURNITURE (30.,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS TYPEWRITER DESK Application filed July 3,

This invention relates to typewriter desks, and more particularly to a type of desk in which foldable supports permit a typewriter to be supported in raised and lowered positions.

' One of the objects of the invention isto equip a compartment of a typewriter desk with foldable supporting means of simple and sturdy construction which will permit a 1g; typewriter to be lowered into a compartment and which, when extended, will support a typewriter at an elevated position, affording ample knee room for the operator therebelow. Another object is to provide the typewriter compartment of a desk with foldable mechanism which will permit a machine of relatively large size to be raised and lowered therein, the typewriter, in raised pos1tion, being supported at a relatively high elevation.

A further object is toprovide means by which the typewriter support when in raised position, may be held or locked against movement or vibrations. A further object is to provlde means by which the link mechanism may be largely relieved of strain when the typewriter support is in raised and lowered positions and the supporting element steadied or held against all movement except that in the direction of folding. Other ob ects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is fully described 1n the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front view of a desk equipped in accordance with my invention; 7

Fig. 2 is a top plan view,the entire top of the desk having been removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, the section being 8.!) taken as indicated at 3 of Figure 1, and the foldable mechanism being shown in lowered position;

Fig. 1 is a similar view, the foldable mech anism being shown in raised position;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the locking mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4:; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 6 of Fig. 5.

In the illustration'given, A designates a is desk provided with a top B, legs C, and draw- 1930. Serial No. 465,727.

ers D. In the central part of the desk, there is provided between the drawers D, a typewriter compartment. Directly over the typewriter compartment is a top l which is adapted to be folded into the compartment, as will be hereinafter described. The front part of top 1 is provided with adepending panel 2. Near each of the sides of top 1 and near the front, there is a flange 3 which may be .secured to the member 1 by any suitable means. A link member 4 is pivotally secured to the flange 3 at one end and at the other end is pivotally secured to a compartment of desk A. In the illustration given, the top member 1 abuts at its rear edge a top strip 5 which is preferably cut away at its front end along the line 6 to enable the top 1 to be lowered in a rearward direction.

Secured to the underside of top 1 and near its rear end is a pivot bracket 7 which may be secured to the top by means of nailsor other suitable means. A rocker link 8 is pivotally secured at an intermediate point 9 to a pivot bracket 10 and has one arm pivotally connected to bracket 7. The other arm of member 8 is pivotally connected to link 11. Link 11 is in turn pivotally connected to bracket arm 12 which is secured to the undersideof the typewriter support 13. A link member 14 is also pivotally connected to bracket arm 12 and at its other end is pivotally connected to the compartment wall of the desk.

The typewriter support or board 13, in the illustration given, comprises a board member of'suitablesize for carrying a typewriter. Secured to the rear portion of the board 13 is a back or retaining band 15 adapted to hold the typewriter when the board 13 is in lowered position. Near its forward portion a bracket member 16 is secured tothe underside of board 13 and pivotally secured thereto is a link arm 17 The lower end of the link 17 is pivotally secured to a bracket member 18 carried by the leg C adjacent the compartment. Secured to the board 13 and .project- 8 ing downwardly therefrom is apin 19 for a purpose which will be" hereinafter described.

To make the support 13rigid, when in raised position, and to lock it against movement and vibrations, I have provided a cross arm 20 which is secured to posts C on opposite sides of the compartment. The cross arm 20 is placed at an elevation at which it will support the board 13 when the latter 1S brought forward into operating position; As shown more clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, the cross arm or rest 20, is preferably provided centrally with a groove or depression 21. To reinforce the grooves, a metal ring 22 of the shape shown in Fig. 6, is preferably used. The ring member 22 is adapted to receive the pin 19 with which the support 13 is equipped and thus to lock the support 13 against lateral movement. The oblong shape of the ring 22 enables the pin 19 to be readily swung into and out of engagement therewith.

In order to support the board member 13 at a relatively high elevation to provide ample knee room for the operator, while at the same time providing a large opening between the top 1 and carriage 13 through which a typewriter with its attachments may pass, employ a relatively long link 17 which is pivotally secured atits ends to the support 13 and leg C, at the intermediate points shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4.. The remaining links are of the relative dimensions illustrated and cooperate with link 17 to support carriage 13 at a high elevation and to provide a large opening for the pas-V sa e of a typewriter with its attachments. 1th the link mechanism illustrated, the support 13 is carried when in raised position quite near the top of the desk.

As shownmore clearly in Fig. 3, a cross piece 23at the bottom of the compartment serves as a rest forthe support 13 in its lowered position and takes the strain ortensio off the link members.

The link mechanism which has been described is preferably used on both sides of the compartment to support both sides of the support member 13. While the mechanism may be suflicient, if employed on one side only, it is preferred to use a set for each side of the compartment in order to make for easier operation and to secure a more rigid support for the typewriter.

In the operation of the apparatus, the typewriter is placed upon the supporting member 13 and within the back or retaining member 15. When it is desired to'raise the typewriter from the lowered position shown in Fig.3, the top member 1 may be raised. In this'operation the upper arm of rocker link 8 is depressed and the lower arm raised. Connecting link 11 and link 12 raise the rear portion of the support13 while the link 17 causes the support 13 to move forwardly and downwardly about the pivots 18 and 16. To lower the typewriter support, the forward end'of the support member may be raisedand moved rearward, or, if desired, the top memher 1 may be raised and drawn in a forward direction. In the raised position, the pin 19 enters the slot 21 and locks the support against lateral movement.

While I have shown a particular form of desk and typewriter compartment therein, it is obvious that other forms of desks affording difierent types of compartments may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

I claim:

7 1. In apparatus of the character set forth, a'desk providing a typewriter compartment, a top for said compartment, a typewriter sup port adapted to be raised and lowered in said compartment, and link mechanism adapted to support the sides of said support and said top, said mechanism comprising a short arm link fixedly secured to the bottom portion of said support, a rocker link pivotally secured near its middle portion to saiddesk, a connecting link pivotally secured to one end of said rocker link and to said short arm link, the other end of said rocker link being pivotally secured to the rear portion of said top, a link pivotally secured to said short arm link and to said desk, a link connected to the front portion of said desk and to a forward portion of said support, and a link member connected to a middle portion of said desk and to a forward portion of said top.

2. In apparatus of the character set forth, a desk providing a typewriter compartment, a top for said compartment, a typewriter support adapted to be raised and lowered in said compartment, said support being equipped on its bottom side with a pair of short arm links, a pair of connecting links pivotally secured to said desk and to said short arms, a pair of rocker links pivotally secured to their mid- .dle portions to said desk, said rocker arms having their ends on one side secured .to the rear portion of said top, connecting linkspivotally secured to the other ends of said rocker links and to said short arms, a pair of links pivotally connected to the-front portion of said desk and to a forward portion of said support, and a pair of links pivotally connected to said desk and to the front portion of said top.

3. In apparatus of the character set forth, a desk providing a typewriter compartment,

a top for said c0mpartment,a typewriter support adapted to be raised and lowered in said compartment, a cross arm adapted to support said typewriter support in raised position, and link mechanism adapted to carry the sides of said support and said top, sai'd mechanism comprising two sets of link memi'is bers disposed on opposite sides of said typewriter compartment, each of said sets including a short arm fixedly secured to the bottom of said support, a link member pivotally connected to said desk and to said short arm, a rocker member pivotally secured near its central portion to said desk and having one end pivotally connected to the rear portion of said top, a connecting link joining the other end of said rocker link to said short arm, a link member pivotally connected to a front portion of said desk and to a forward portion of said support, and a link pivotally connected to a central portion of said desk and to the front portion of said top.

4. In apparatus of the character set forth, a desk providing a typewriter compartment, a top for said compartment, a typewriter support adapted to be raised and lowered in said compartment, said support being equipped on its bottom side with a pair of bracket arms, a pair of connecting links pivs otally secured to said desk and to said bracket arms, a pair of rocker links pivotally secured at an intermediate point in their lengths to said desk, said rocker arms having their ends on one side secured to the rear portion of said top, connecting links secured to the other ends of said rocker links and to said bracket arms, a pair of links pivotally connected to the front portion of said desk and to a forward portion of said support, and a pair of links pivotally connected to said desk and to a forward portion of said top.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand this 26th day of June, 1930.

ISIDOR FRANKEL. 

